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I 

Our Debt to France 

II 

What Lafayette Did 

FOR America 



Dedicated to the Fatherless 
Children of France 



BY 

James Hosmer Penniman, Litt. D. 



^ V . 



.F4- 



"Among all the inmimerahle expressions of 
sympathy, all the kindnesses showered by you on 
Finance, none touches us so deeply as what you are 
doing for the orphans of our heroic dead. Our chil- 
dren are our Tnost precious possession, our joy and 
our hope, and there is no surer way to our hearts 
than to help these pitiful victims of this war for 
the liberation of the world." 

— Marshal Joffre. 



COPYRIGHT 

JAMES H. PENNIMAN 

1921 



SEP 24 1921 §'^-'^622987 



^^ 



^ i 



Our Debt to France 



Washington weighed his words when he wrote 
that our obligation to France calls for "the most 
unalterable gratitude," and Joseph Choate said that 
he could find no language adequate to express what 
America owes to France. Though the great actors in 
the drama of our Revolution sleep in the fields of 
silence, their deeds remain eloquent, and it is well 
to recall their words, which are so modest when they 
tell of their own actions and so generous and apprecia- 
tive when they describe those of their allies. They 
make it perfectly clear that France came in our hour 
of supreme need and exerted the determining influence, 
when our armies and our credit were all but exhausted 
by the long struggle. 

Early in 1776 Congress sent Silas Deane, a grad- 
uate of Yale of the class of 1758, as commissioner to 
France to propose an offensive and defensive alliance 
and a treaty of commerce. Vergennes, the Minister of 
Foreign Affairs, received Deane with cordiality and 
benevolence and told him to consider himself under 
the immediate protection of the King of France, and 
in case of any insult or molestation to complain directly 
to himself and to depend on receiving the most satis- 
factory redress; that, though talk of an alliance was 
premature, his government would show its good will 
by allowing the Americans to purchase supplies 
secretly. 



There was then no factory in America where 
muskets or cannon could be made in any quantity, and 
it was almost impossible to obtain gunpowder. July 
20th Deane had another interview by appointment at 
Versailles with Vergennes and was promised 40,000 
muskets. Vergennes also proposed to have the arms 
of France erased from 200 brass cannon, if it could 
be done without weakening them, and if not he prom- 
ised that others should be cast in the King*s foundries. 
Vergennes sent De Chaumont, a wealthy man, to 
Deane with priced samples of the uniforms worn in 
the French army, and De Chaumont voluntarily offered 
to become security to the amount of 1,000,000 francs 
for the purchase of clothing for the Americans. 

Vergennes's knowledge of European politics was 
considered superior to that of any other man of his 
time, so that the services which he was able to render 
to America were of inestimable value. When Ver- 
gennes died in 1788, Franklin said that it was a great 
loss to France, to Europe, to America and to mankind. 

The decision to aid America was largely due to 
the efforts of that extraordinary Frenchman, Beau- 
marchais, well known as the author of the "Barber 
of Seville" and the "Marriage of Figaro." Beau- 
marchais is comparable to Sheridan in wit, stagecraft 
and in his ability to satirize the follies of his time, 
and his polemical papers resemble those of Swift. 
Through his writings he had become a leader of public 
opinion. In the "Marriage of Figaro" he showed clearly 
the dangerous condition of France. He first made plain 
that the balance of power in Europe was to be found 
in America. As early as September, 1775, Beaumar- 
chais declared that America was lost to the mother 
country, and early in 1776 he urged the King of France 
to give secret aid to the Americans, saying, "If your 
majesty has no more skillful man to employ, I am 
ready to take the matter in charge and will be respon- 
sible for the treaty without compromising any one, 
persuaded that my zeal will better supplement my 

4 



lack of dexterity than the dexterity of another could 
replace my zeal. The Americans are as well placed 
as possible; army, fleet, provisions, courage, every- 
thing is excellent; but without powder and engineers 
how can they conquer or how even can they defend 
themselves ? Are we willing to let them perish rather 
than loan them one or two millions ? Are we afraid of 
losing the money T* 

With the connivance of Vergennes, Beaumarchais 
organized the commercial firm of Hortalez & Co. "You 
will found your house,'* he was instructed, "and at your 
own risk and perils you will provision the Americans 
with arms and munitions and objects of equipment 
and whatever is necessary to support the war. You 
shall not demand money of the Americans, because 
they have none, but you shall ask returns in com- 
modities of their soil, the sale of which we will facili- 
tate in our country." American tobacco, rice and wheat 
were then especially valuable in Europe. Agents of 
Beaumarchais met the captains of American ships on 
their arrival in France, aided them to dispose of their 
cargoes and rendered any other services in their power. 
For instance, when five vessels arrived from America 
with fish, a prohibited article, the French officials 
informed Deane that if the vessels came from Congress 
they should be permitted to unload and to sell their 
cargoes. 

May 2, 1776, the French Government advanced to 
Beaumarchais 1,000,000 francs for the purchase of 
supplies for the Americans, and two months later he 
received another million from Spain, which was paid 
through the treasury of France. Within a year Beau- 
marchais had sent eight shiploads of military stores, 
drawn largely from royal arsenals and valued at more 
than 6,000,000 francs. For a long time he was the 
exclusive agent of France, and through him supplies 
were sent without which Washington's forces could 
not have existed. Beaumarchais obtained over 200 
cannon, 25,000 muskets, 200,000 pounds of powder, 20 

5 



or 30 brass mortars and clothing and tents for 25,000 
men. These he loaded on ships obtained by himself. 
At one time he fitted out ten merchantmen and 
equipped a man-of-war to escort them. Silas Deane 
wrote Congress, "I should have never completed what 
I have but for the generous, the indefatigable and 
spirited exertions of Monsieur Beaumarchais, to whom 
the United States are on every account greatly 
indebted; more so than to any other person on this 
side of the water." When Beaumarchais was himself 
struggling with financial difficulties, he wrote: 
^'Through all these annoyances the news from Amer- 
ica overwhelms me with joy. Brave, brave people, 
their warlike conduct justifies my esteem and the noble 
enthusiasm felt for them in France." 

Though Franklin was seventy when Congress 
unanimously elected him on the first ballot a commis- 
sioner to France, there is no exaggeration in saying 
that his services surpass those of any other American 
diplomat in any period of our history. Afflicted with 
the infirmities of age, his mind remained bright, his 
good nature undiminished and he cheerfully undertook 
the dangerous voyage in order to serve his country. He 
came on the Reprisal, which made the trip from land 
to land in thirty days. It carried indigo for the account 
of Congress worth £3000. On the way over it cap- 
tured two British ships worth £4000. 

Franklin arrived in Paris in December, 1776. At 
first he took lodgings in the Rue de TUniversitie, but 
in a few days he withdrew to Passy, where he lived 
nine years. Franklin described his residence as "a 
fine house, situated in a neat village on high ground, 
half a mile from Paris, with a large garden to walk in." 
The house was the property of De Chaumont, who 
wrote John Adams in September, 1778, "when I con- 
secrated my house to Doctor Franklin and his asso- 
ciates who might live with him, I made it fully under- 
stood that I should expect no compensation, because I 
perceived that you had need of all your means to send 

6 



to the succor of your country or to relieve the dis- 
tresses of your countrymen escaping from the chains 
of their enemies. I pray you, sir, to permit this 
arrangement to remain, which I made when the fate 
of your country was doubtful. When she shall enjoy 
all her splendor such sacrifices on my part will be 
superfluous or unworthy of her; but at present they 
may be useful, and I am happy in offering them to 
you." He added that it was a good thing "to have 
immortalized my house by receiving into it Doctor 
Franklin and his associates." 

That a man of such erudition and distinction as 
Franklin should come from the colonies was a paradox 
which delighted French society. The wit of his writing 
was particularly appreciated; the sayings of "le bon- 
homme Richard" were quoted all over France, and the 
clergy advised the people to take them to heart. France 
was filled with medals, busts and pictures of Franklin, 
so that he wrote his daughter that the numbers sold 
were incredible and "have made your father's face as 
well known as the moon." Among the powdered heads 
of Paris he wore his own gray hair, a fur cap and 
spectacles, but the old man in his brown suit made 
more impression than the most glittering ambassador. 

Long before their government took up our cause 
most Frenchmen individually sympathized with us, so 
that in order to preserve the semblance of neutrality, 
it was necessary to prohibit the discussion of the war 
in the cafes of Paris. Republican literature was widely 
read, and the Declaration of Independence was received 
with enthusiasm. John Adams wrote of the French in 
1778: "There is no people in the world who take so 
much pains to please, nor any whose endeavors in this 
way have more success. Their arts and manners, taste 
and language, are more respected in Europe than those 
of any other nation." Buckle states: "More new 
truths concerning the external world were discovered 
in France during the latter part of the eighteenth 
century than during all the previous periods put 

7 



together." People crowded to lectures on chemistry 
and physics as if they were plays. Franklin was a 
member of the French Academy of Sciences and 
attended its meetings regularly, and his experiments 
with the kite were as well known in Paris as in 
Philadelphia. 

Distinguished as a man of science, a man of letters 
and a man of broad humanity, Franklin was learned 
above all other men in the philosophy of life, and he 
had attained a ripe old age without losing faith in man- 
kind. He found his happiness in that of his fellow- 
men. He was equally at home with common men and 
with scholars and princes, for he was able to com- 
prehend every one's point of view. No man under- 
stood the present better than he, and few had a more 
prophetic vision into the future. A keen observer, of 
wisdom, judgment and sagacity, he did his work so 
easily that it seemed easy work until some one else 
tried to do it. He had snatched the lightning from the 
clouds, and was now doing his utmost to wrest the 
scepter of the thirteen colonies from the tyrant. 

Ten days after Franklin's arrival he had a secret 
interview with Vergennes, who was charmed by his 
tact and courtesy and said that his conduct was as 
zealous and patriotic as it was wise and circumspect. 
Franklin's unswerving loyalty to France in spite of 
the snares and temptations which were artfully laid for 
him by our enemies was equaled only by his inflexible 
devotion to his native land. Before Franklin left for 
France he had loaned Congress all his available fortune, 
and during the years of his stay in France the closest 
scrutiny failed to reveal a single instance of his mis- 
management of the public funds. Instead of sending 
money to its diplomats, the United States drew bills on 
them. Franklin was able not only to meet the drafts 
on himself, but was also able to help his colleagues, who 
were accredited to other courts. He knew how to bide 
his time; it was sometimes months before the Ameri- 
can diplomats could hear from home. For instance, 

8 



Burgoyne surrendered the 17th of October, 1777, but it 
was not until the 4th of December that the informa- 
tion reached Paris, where it caused as much rejoicing 
as if it had been a French victory. Beaumarchais 
drove with such furious speed to carry the news that 
his carriage upset, his arm was cut, and the bones of 
his neck nearly crushed, but he wrote : *The charming 
news from America is balm to my wounds." 
^*'****^ The surrender of Burgoyne, added to the fact that 
the American army made an excellent showing at Ger- 
mantown, so soon after the defeat at the Brandywine, 
decided the French government to espouse our cause 
openly. December 12th Vergennes said of the battle of 
Germantown, "Nothing has struck me so much as 
General Washington attacking and giving battle to 
General Howe's army. To bring troops raised within 
the year to do this promises everything." 

December 17th, as Washington was preparing to 
go into winter quarters at Valley Forge, though the 
prospect in America was dark, a bright star of hope 
arose for us in France, for on that day Gerard, a secre- 
tary of Vergennes, who later became the first minister 
of France to the United States, and to whom our coun- 
try is indebted for constant and efficient efforts in our 
behalf, officially informed Franklin and Deane that 
France had determined not only to acknowledge, but 
also to support the independence of America. The 
most important treaties in American history are, that 
with France, signed February 6, 1778, and those with 
Great Britain, which ended the war of the Revolution. 
The treaty with France was the first the United States 
made with any nation. It stated: 

"The essential and direct end of the present de- 
fensive alliance is to maintain effectually the liberty, 
sovereignty, and independence absolute and unlimited 
of the said United States." 

France and the United States mutually engaged 
not to lay down their arms until this independence 
should have been assured by the treaty that should 

9 



terminate the war. Though France could have driven 
a hard bargain, her only desire was the perpetual 
friendship of the United States, so that Franklin 
wrote : "France has taken no advantage of our present 
difficulties to exact terms which we would not willingly 
grant when established in prosperity and power.*' 

The French alliance was celebrated by Washing- 
ton's army at Valley Forge, May 5th. The brigades 
assembled at 9 o'clock, their chaplains made the an- 
nouncement, offered up a thanksgiving and delivered 
a suitable discourse. At half-past ten a cannon gave 
the signal to line up for inspection, thirteen guns were 
fired, there was a running salute of infantry through- 
out the whole line and at a given signal, the entire army 
cheered, "Long live the King of France !" 

An officer wrote : "Last Wednesday was set apart 
as a day of general rejoicing, when we had a feu de joie 
conducted with the greatest order and regularity. The 
army made a most brilliant appearance; after which 
his Excellency dined in public, attended by a band of 
music. I never was present where there was such un- 
feigned and perfect joy as was discovered in every 
countenance. The entertainment was concluded with 
a number of patriotic toasts, attended with hurrahs. 
When the General took his leave there wag a universal 
clap, with loud hurrahs, which continued till he had 
proceeded a quarter of a mile, during which time there 
was a thousand hats tossed in the air. His Excellency 
turned round with his retinue and hurrahed several 
times." 

It is interesting to note that there were two 
opposite causes during the Revolution which made 
Washington exhibit violent emotion; one was cow- 
ardice and the failure of his men to do their duty, the 
other was the devotion of France. 

The alliance between France and the United States 
was of course a cause of war between France and Great 
Britain, and April 13, 1778, five weeks after the signing 
of the treaty of alliance, Admiral D'Estaing left Toulon 

10 



for America with twelve ships of the line and four 
frigates. He was delayed by adverse winds and did 
not reach the Delaware Capes till July 8th. The British, 
who had spent the winter in Philadelphia, had evacu- 
ated the city June 18th, so that D'Estaing found that 
their fleet had escaped to New York. He followed 
them, but, though his ships were superior to the 
British then in New York, they drew too much water 
to cross the bar. He then proceeded to Newport. 
When D'Estaing appeared in Narragansett Bay the 
British burned the following frigates to prevent their 
capture by the French: Juno 32, Lark 32, Orpheus 
32, Cerberus 32, Kingfisher 16; and the Flora 32 and 
Falcon 18 were sunk. Admiral Howe, having been 
reinforced, left New York August 6th with eight ships 
of the line, five 50s, two 44s and a number of smaller 
vessels. D'Estaing sailed out to battle with him, but 
a violent storm separated the two fleets. The French 
were obliged to go to Boston for repairs, and the Amer- 
ican troops, deprived of the protection of the French 
fleet, had to abandon Rhode Island. 

During the Revolution Washington had important 
victories snatched from him by combinations of cir- 
cumstances which he could not anticipate or control, 
so that the following sympathetic letter which he wrote 
D'Estaing September 11, 1778, might have been writ- 
ten after Germantown or Monmouth to the com- 
mander-in-chief instead of by him : 

"If the deepest regret that the best concerted en- 
terprise and bravest exertions should have been ren- 
dered fruitless by a disaster which human prudence is 
incapable of foreseeing or preventing can alleviate dis- 
appointment, you may be assured that the whole conti- 
nent sympathizes with you. It will be a consolation to 
you to reflect that the thinking part of mankind do not 
form their judgment from events and that their equity 
will ever attach equal glory to those actions which de- 
serve success as to those which have been crowned 
with it. It is in the trying circumstances to which 

11 



your excellency has been exposed that the virtues of a 
great mind are displayed in their brightest lustre and 
that the general's character is better known than in the 
moment of victory. It was yours by every title which 
can give it, and the adverse element which robbed you 
of your prize can never deprive you of the glory due to 
you. Though your success has not been equal to your 
expectations, yet you have the satisfaction of reflect- 
ing that you have rendered essential services to the 
common cause." 

D'Estaing proceeded to the West Indies, where 
his operations kept busy forces which otherwise would 
have been employed against the United States, and 
the British were obliged also to send there 5000 men 
from New York. Lafayette wrote Washington that 
the news of the fleet of D'Estaing ''occasioned the 
evacuation of Philadelphia. Its arrival has opened all 
the harbors, secured all the coasts, obliged the British 
navy to be together." 

D'Estaing brought with him our friend Gerard, 
who was the first minister of any foreign power to 
the United States. France sent him in a manner 
worthy of a great nation, for he embarked on the 
Languedoc, D'Estaing's flagship. Few of those who 
see in Philadelphia the portrait of Gerard, the first 
of the long line of distinguished diplomats who have 
represented France in the United States, know that 
before he went home Congress requested that his 
portrait be hung in its halls, so that we might keep 
reminded of his services to our country. La Luzerne 
succeeded Gerard in the fall of 1779 and represented 
France with ability and courtesy for five critical years. 
With Gerard came Silas Deane, who, though he had 
made enemies, had served our country so faithfully in 
France that Franklin wrote the President of Congress : 
"Having lived intimately with him now fifteen months, 
the greatest part of the time in the same house, and 
been a constant witness of his public conduct, I cannot 
omit giving this testimony, though unasked, in his 

12 



behalf, that I esteem him a faithful, active and able 
minister, who, to my knowledge, has done in various 
ways great and important services to his country." 

September 1, 1779, D'Estaing came a second time, 
arriving on the coast of Georgia with twenty-two 
ships of the line and eleven frigates. In October an 
allied force of about 6000, two-thirds of which were 
French, attacked Savannah with great gallantry. The 
city was invested and its fortifications were bom- 
barded by the French fleet. October 9th an assault was 
made, the outworks were carried and the French and 
American flags placed on the ramparts, but the allies 
were finally repulsed with the loss of about 1000, among 
them the gallant Pulaski. D^Estaing was severely 
wounded twice. Fifteen French officers and 168 men 
were killed, 43 officers and 411 men wounded. Though 
D'Estaing had been prevented from doing all that he 
wished, he had done his best with the utmost bravery, 
and there was great harmony between the allies. 
D'Estaing said, "My duty before all else was to prove 
to the new allies of his majesty that we were ready to 
sacrifice everything in order to keep a promise that we 
had once made.'* 

On his return to France he rendered great service 
to America by urging his government to increase its 
efforts in our behalf. Of D'Estaing Lafayette wrote: 
"He is a man whose genius and talents and great 
qualities of heart and mind I admire as much as I 
love his virtues, his patriotism and his amiability. He 
has suffered every possible reverse and he has not 
been able to accomplish what he hoped for; but he is, 
to my mind, a man made to be intrusted with the inter- 
ests of a nation like ours." 

Rochambeau was a representative soldier of 
France, that nation of great soldiers. One of the 
most experienced officers in the French army, his name 
attracted distinguished men to serve under him. Like 
Washington, Rochambeau was personally brave to the 
point of rashness, grave, reticent, a strict disci- 

13 



plinarian, but beloved by his men. Like Washington, 
Rochambeau had been made a colonel at twenty-two. 
He had won successive promotions by his brilliant 
deeds on the field of battle. In 1780 he had seen thirty- 
eight years of service and had attained the rank of 
lieutenant general. He was proud of saying that of the 
15,000 soldiers who had fallen gloriously under his 
command he could not reproach himself for the death 
of any one. Before Rochambeau departed for America 
the French government had advanced 8,000,000 francs 
for the expedition. May 2, 1782, Admiral de Ternay 
sailed with six ships of the line and five frigates, 
thirty-two transports and a hospital ship. In order 
to carry more men Rochambeau was even obliged to 
leave his beloved warhorses. He was able to take 
with him only 5500 soldiers. Those who' were left 
behind were bitterly disappointed. Rochambeau com- 
manded the elite of the French army, composed of 
the ancient and distinguished regiments, Bourbonnais, 
Soissonnais, Saintong and Royal Deux-Ponts. The 
Bourbonnais regiment was the seventh in age in the 
French infantry, having been organized in 1595. Two 
regiments came from places notable in the recent world 
war, the Soissonnais and the Royal Deux-Ponts, the 
latter having been recruited in Alsace. The Due de 
Lauzun, an author and one of the most elegant men 
of France, commanded a Legion of Foreign Volun- 
teers, consisting of 800 infantry and 400 cavalry, part 
of whom had to be left in France for lack of trans- 
ports. The French officers were noted for military 
experience and nearly all were noblemen. To 
enumerate them and to tell of their deeds and of their 
descent would be to rewrite the history of France. 
I can name merely a few. Next to Rochambeau in 
rank were the brothers Viomenil, both of whom were 
major generals, as was also Chevalier de Chastellux, 
whose literary work afterward won him a place in 
the French Academy. Berthier's extraordinary ability 
in arranging and carrying out military details made 

14 



him later Napoleon's chief of staff, and Napoleon 
created him Prince of Wagram ; Dumas became a gen- 
eral under Napoleon; Montesquieu was the grandson 
of the author of "L'Esprit des Lois" ; Count de Vauban 
was a grandson of the great military engineer, and 
Count de Segur wrote memoirs of the American Revo- 
lution and of Napoleon. The colonel of the Bour- 
bonnais was the Marquis de Laval-Montmorency, and 
Rochambeau's son, the Vicomte de Rochambeau, was 
lieutenant colonel. 

Lafayette wrote Washington November 13, 1780: 
"The Marquis de Laval Montmorency, of one of the 
most illustrious families in France, is on his way to 
the camp. The Chevalier de Chastellux, a relation 
and friend of mine, major general in the French army, 
is also coming. I every day expect my brother-in- 
law and his friend, Count de Charlus, only son to the 
,Marquis de Castries, who enjoys a great consideration 
in France and has won the battle of Closter Camp. The 
Duke of Lauzun has also written to me that he would 
come soon. These five gentlemen may by their emi- 
nence at home be considered as the first people in 
the French army." The colonel of the Soissannais was 
the Count de Saint-Maime, and Lafayette's brother- 
in-law, Vicomte de Noailles, was lieutenant colonel. 
He distinguished himself by walking the entire dis- 
tance from Newport to Yorktown, 756 miles. Comte de 
Custine commanded the Saintonge. The brothers 
Deux-Ponts commanded the Royal Deux-Ponts. 

There is nothing in the history of our relations 
with France more impressive than the fact that 
Rochambeau's orders were that the French army 
should be under the command of Washington, **to 
whom the honors of a marshal of France will be 
rendered." No one in Rochambeau's army had such 
a rank. It was also ordered that **in case of an equality 
of rank and of duration of service, the American officer 
will take command." 

15 



In spite of the British navy, Admiral Temay 
brought Rochambeau's force safely over, and they 
reached Newport July 10th, after a voyage of seventy 
days. July 12th Rochambeau v^rote Washington: "I 
am arrived full of submission and zeal and of venera- 
tion for yourself and for the talents you have shown in 
sustaining a war that will be forever memorable/' 
Rochambeau wrote the President of Congress: "We 
are your brothers and we shall act as such with you. 
We will fight your enemies by your side as if we were 
one and the same nation." 

Questions of etiquette and precedence were easily 
settled by two such unselfish men as Washington and 
Rochambeau, and the only contest between the French 
and Americans was as to who should first storm the 
redoubts at Yorktown. Rochambeau states that dur- 
ing his entire stay in America there was not a blow 
nor a quarrel between any French and American sol- 
dier. The gay French officers submitted with perfect 
propriety to the simple life of the Americans. The 
companions of Lauzun are described as being tall, 
vivacious men with handsome faces and noble air. 
They were splendidly mounted and equipped. When 
Governor Trumbull at table, where twenty of them 
were seated, offered a long prayer, they attended with 
courtesy, and all joined in with the amen. 

In 1781, at Newport, the French celebrated Wash- 
ington's birthday by a parade, a salute and by a gen- 
eral holiday. This is said to have been the first public 
recognition of the day. French soldiers rendered 
themselves agreeable not only because of the polite- 
ness which characterizes their nation, but also because 
of the genuine interest which they felt in the Ameri- 
can cause. Trees with apples growing on them over- 
hung tents which the French had occupied for three 
months. The perfectly equipped army of France was 
proud to be allied with the ragged forces of Wash- 
ington. The uniforms of the French army were the 
handsomest ever seen in America. The Deux-Ponts 

16 



wore white ; the Saintong white faced with green ; the 
Soissonnais white with rose facings and grenadier 
hats with white and rose plumes; the Bourbonnais 
black and red, and the artillery blue trimmed with red. 
The more ragged the American soldiers the warmer 
the sympathy of the French. Baron de Closen wrote: 
"These brave men were painful to see ; almost naked, 
nothing but pantaloons and slight jacket of linen or 
cotton, the greater number without stockings; but — 
could it be believed? — in the best good humor in the 
world and all hearty in form and face. I am alto- 
gether in admiration of these American troops. It is 
incredible that troops composed of men of all ages, 
even lads of 15, of black and white, all half naked, can 
march so well and stand fire with such firmness." The 
Abbe Robin thus describes the Americans: 

"The American troops have as yet no regular uni- 
form. The officers and artillery corps alone are uni- 
formed. Several regiments have small white fringed 
casaques, the effect of which is sightly enough; their 
wide, long, linen pantaloons neither incommode them 
nor interfere with the play of their limbs on the march, 
yet with a nourishment much less substantial than our 
own and a temperament much less vigorous, for this 
reason alone, perhaps, they support fatigue much bet- 
ter than our troops. 

"These American garments, altho easily soiled, are 
nevertheless kept extremely clean. Their neatness is 
particularly observable among the officers. To see 
them you would suppose that they had a large amount 
of baggage, but I was surprised to find in their tents, 
which accommodate three or four persons, not as much 
as forty pounds' weight. Hardly any have mattresses, 
a single covering stretched on the knotty bark of trees 
serving them for bed." 

A French officer wrote : 

"The Americans gain more on my esteem as they 
are more known. I have met with the greatest integ- 
rity, civility and hospitality among them. Their mili- 

17 



tia have joined us. They are not clothed in any uni- 
form and are in great want of shoes and even of the 
most common conveniences, which, if a European army 
was deficient in, a general desertion would follow. But 
the American troops are furnished with good arms, 
possess an incredible store of patience and preserve the 
most perfect sobriety. There are no more hardy sol- 
diers, and the last four years have given incontestible 
proof of their valour." 

Washington wrote Lafayette: **A decisive naval 
superiority is to be considered as a fundamental prin- 
ciple." For lack of this naval superiority the French 
army was forced to remain idle at Newport for eleven 
months. But though inactive, the French were far from 
useless, for Washington was ready to attack New York 
in case Clinton made a demonstration against Rocham- 
beau at Newport, and the concentration of the British 
ships at Gardener's Bay, in order to watch the French 
army and navy at Newport, made it easy for the 
American privateers to take prizes, and gave freedom 
to American commerce. When it became certain that a 
powerful French fleet was about to co-operate with the 
land forces, the French army removed from Newport 
and joined Washington near New York, and the com- 
bined armies spent July and the first half of August 
a short distance north of the British lines. At Phillips- 
burg, twelve miles from Kingsbridge, July 6, 1781, 
Washington's orderly book states: *The commander- 
in-chief with pleasure embraces the earliest possible 
opportunity of expressing his thanks to his Excellency, 
the Count de Rochambeau, for the unremitting zeal 
with which he has prosecuted his march, in order to 
form the long-wished-for junction between the French 
and American forces, an event which must afford the 
highest degree of pleasure to every friend of his 
country, and from which the happiest consequences are 
to be expected." 

In congratulating his army on the arrival of Roch- 
ambeau, Washington says in his orderly book: *'The 

18 



generosity of this succour, and the manner in which it 
is given, is a new tie between France and America. 
The lively concern which our allies manifest for our 
safety and independence, has a claim to the affection 
of every virtuous citizen. The general with confidence 
assures the army that the officers and men of the 
French forces come to our aid, animated with a zeal 
founded in sentiment for us, as well as in duty to their 
prince, and that they will do everything in their power 
to promote harmony and cultivate friendship. He is 
equally persuaded that on our part we shall vie with 
them in their good dispositions, to which we are 
excited by gratitude as well as by the common 
interest." 

While reconnoitering around New York, Washing- 
ton commanded the admiration of the French by his 
perfect horsemanship and his coolness under fire. 
When the tide rose at Throg's Neck, they were obliged 
to swim their horses, as Washington so frequently had 
to do in his younger days, but this was quite new to 
Rochambeau. The officers were in the saddle for 
forty-eight hours and Count de Dumas had a horse 
shot under him. 

Ambassador Jusserand, to whose learned studies 
we are greatly indebted, calls attention to the fact that 
his predecessor, La Luzerne, was the first to recognize 
the necessity of immediate action in the Chesapeake. 
As early as April 20th, Luzerne had written : "It is in 
Chesapeake Bay that it seems urgent to convey all the 
naval forces of the king, with such land forces as the 
generals will consider appropriate." 

August 14, 1781, Washington states in his diary that 
he received dispatches from Count de Barras, announc- 
ing the intended departure of the Count de Grasse from 
Cape Francois with between twenty-five and twenty- 
nine sail of the line and 3200 land troops on the 3d 
instant for Chesapeake Bay, and the anxiety of the 
latter to have everything in the most perfect readiness 
to commence our operations in the moment of his 

19 



arrival, as he should be under a necessity from particu- 
lar engagements with the Spaniards to be in the West 
Indies by the middle of October. "Matters having now 
come to a crisis, I was obliged, from the shortness of 
Count de Grasse's promised stay on this coast, to give 
up all idea of attacking New York ; and instead thereof 
to remove the French troops and a detachment from 
the American army to the Head of Elk, to be trans- 
ported to Virginia." August 16th Washington received 
word from Lafayette that Cornwallis had reached 
Yorktown on the 6th and was throwing up works. 
Washington took south 2000 Continentals and 4000 
French. Washington and Rochambeau alone knew the 
destination. Every one else, the British included, 
thought that the allies would attack New York city by 
way of Staten Island. In order to enable the American 
army to march to Yorktown, Robert Morris borrowed 
$30,000, $20,000 of which was loaned by Rochambeau 
from his military chest. Morris promised to return 
this by October 1st, and was enabled to do so by the 
arrival from France of Colonel Laurens with a part of 
a donation of 6,000,000 francs given by the French 
government. 

August 19th the united armies commenced their 
march to the south. On passing through Philadelphia 
the French army paid Congress the honors which had 
been ordered and the thirteen representatives of Con- 
gress took off their thirteen hats at each salute. At 
Chester, September 5th, Washington received informa- 
tion that De Grasse had arrived in the Chesapeake 
August 30th. This good news caused the commander- 
in-chief to give way to his feelings, as he had done at 
Valley Forge in celebrating the French alliance. Eye- 
witnesses relate that Washington stood on the bank of 
the Delaware waving his hat as Rochambeau ap- 
proached. Lazun said that he had never seen a man 
more carried away with joy, and Deux-Ponts wrote 
that Washington's face beamed with delight, and a 

20 



child whose every wish had been gratified could not 
have expressed keener pleasure. 

De Grasse was in command of twenty-eight ships 
of the line with six frigates, 1700 guns and 20,000 
men. The British had to meet this force nineteen ships 
of the line with 1400 guns and 13,000 men. Thanks to 
France, Washington now held the strings which con- 
trolled the destiny of America. De Grasse brought 
from San Domingo 3200 French troops under the Mar- 
quis de Saint Simon. These were landed at once, and 
Saint Simon, although a field marshal, was glad to 
serve under Lafayette, who wrote, "The general and 
all the officers have cheerfully lived in the same way as 
our poorly provided American detachment." A cor- 
respondent said of the French force : ''You have seen 
the British troops and the troops of other nations, but 
you have not seen troops so universally well made, so 
robust or of such an appearance." The regiments 
brought by Saint Simon were the Gatinais, Agenais 
and Touraine. Both Rochambeau and De Grasse ex- 
ceeded their orders in their desire to aid our country. 
De Grasse brought every possible ship, so that the 
French fleet at Yorktown was the most powerful which 
up to that time had ever been fitted out by France. 
The flagship, the Ville de Paris, of three decks and 104 
guns, was considered the finest afloat. De Grasse also 
brought 4,000,000 francs for Washington's army. 
Five days after the arrival of De Grasse, nineteen 
British men-of-war, under Admiral Graves, appeared 
off the bay. They had been sent by Clinton to intercept 
De Barras, who had sailed from Newport August 28th 
with eight ships of the line and fourteen transports, 
bringing Rochambeau's stores and siege guns. De 
Barras was the senior of De Grasse, but he waived his 
rank and risked his small fleet to make the voyage to 
the Chesapeake, and this is merely an example of the 
way in which the French in all departments of the 
service sacrificed their own individual interests to aid 
the American cause. Graves found De Grasse anchored 

21 



within the capes, and the French admiral at once put 
to sea in order to decoy the British away from the bay, 
so that the way might be clear for De Barras to slip in. 
An irregular fight followed, which lasted for five days, 
when De Grasse returned to the bay and found De 
Barras safely anchored within the capes. In this en- 
gagement the French lost 220 men killed and wounded, 
and the British 336, and one of their men-of-war, a 
seventy-four, had to be abandoned and burned. Graves, 
having failed utterly, returned to New York. The 
fleets of De Grasse and De Barras and the armies of 
Rochambeau and Washington had moved like clock- 
work ; no storms marred their progress, no foe impeded 
their advance. The smoothness with which the forces 
of France and America worked together had not been 
equaled in the military history of the world, until we 
come to operations of the allies in France in the World 
War. 

From September 9th to 11th Washington was at 
Mount Vernon for the first time since the war began. 
Here he entertained Rochambeau and other distin- 
guished French officers. It is safe to say that these 
Frenchmen were the most welcome visitors who ever 
have been or who ever will be received at that shrine 
of humanity. September 18th, Washington, Rocham- 
beau, Knox and Du Portail visited De Grasse on his 
flagship. At their departure De Grasse manned the 
yards of the whole fleet and fired salutes. September 
28th Washington and his staff slept in an open field 
two miles from Yorktown without any other shelter 
than the canopy of heaven. Washington states in 
his diary: "September 20th the enemy abandoned 
all their exterior works and the position they had taken 
without the town and retired within their interior 
works of defense in the course of last night, imme- 
diately upon which we possssed them and made those 
on our left (with a little alteration) very serviceable 
to us. We also began two inclosed works on the right 

22 



of Pidgeon Hill, between that and the ravine above 
More's Hill." 

October 6th. "Before morning the trenches were 
in such forwardness, as to cover the men from the 
enemy's fire. The work was executed with so much 
secrecy and dispatch that the enemy were, I believe, 
totally ignorant of our labor till the light of the morn- 
ing discovered it to them." 

October 9th Washington himself fired the first gun. 
Not less than 100 pieces of heavy ordnance were in 
continual operation, and the whole peninsula trembled. 
The French had brass cannon of from four to forty- 
eight pounds in abundance. Then, as now, French 
artillery was considered the best in Europe, but a few 
days later when the British officers complimented the 
French upon the efficiency of their gunnery, the French 
said that equal praise was due to the American fire. 
Washington records : ''October 9 — about 3 o'clock P. M. 
the French opened a battery on our extreme left of 
four sixteen-pounders and six mortars and howitzers 
— and at 5 o'clock an American battery of six 18's and 
24's, four mortars and two howitzers began to play 
from the extremity of our right. October 10, the 
French opened two batteries on the left of our front 
parallel — and the Americans two batteries between 
those last mentioned and the one on our extreme right. 
October 11 — The French opened two other batteries on 
the left of the parallel." On this day red-hot shots 
were fired, and the Charon and two transports were set 
on fire. 

Washington wrote Congress, October 12th — "I 
cannot but acknowledge the infinite obligations I am 
under to his excellency, the Count de Rochambeau, the 
Marquis de Saint Simon, commanding the troops from 
the West Indies, the other general officers, and indeed, 
the officers of every denomination in the French army, 
for the assistance which they afford me. The experi- 
ence of many of those gentlemen in the business before 
us is of the utmost advantage in the present operation. 

23 



The greatest harmony prevails between the two armies. 
They seem actuated by one spirit, that of supporting 
the honor of the allied armies." 

The night of October 14th the bursting of six con- 
secutive shells from the French batteries was the signal 
for an assault on the British works. Baron de Vio- 
menil commanded the entire operation. The Americans 
under Lafayette stormed the left battery; the French 
Grenadiers led by Viomenil, the right redoubt. Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Gimat's battalion led the Americans, 
and Colonel Armand marched as a volunteer. Baron 
Viomenil, Marquis de Rostaing and Count de Deux- 
Ponts led the French, sword in hand. Colonel Deux- 
Ponts first mounted the ramparts and reached out his 
hand to assist a grenadier to follow, the man fell dead 
and the Colonel coolly extended his hand to a second. 
The allies lost about 500 men. In one charge the 
French grenadiers lost one-third of the men engaged. 

Rochambeau says: "We must render to the 
Americans the justice to say that they comported 
themselves with a zeal, a courage and an emulation 
which never left them behind in any duty with which 
they were charged, although they were strangers to 
the operations of a siege." Washington wrote the 
President of Congress: "Nothing could equal this zeal 
of our allies but the emulating spirit of the Ameri- 
can officers, whose ardor would not suffer their exer- 
tions to be exceeded." Washington's diary says: 
"October 16 — About 4 o'clock this afternoon the 
French opened two batteries of two 24s and four 16s 
each. Three pieces from the American grand battery 
were also opened, the others not being ready. October 
17 — The French opened another battery of four 24s 
and two 16s, and a mortar battery of ten mortars and 
two howitzers, the American grand battery consisting 
of twelve 24s and eighteen 16s, four mortars and two 
howitzers." 

When early in the morning of the 17th the Amer- 
ican grand battery opened fire with great rapidity, 

24 



Knox, fearing that the ammunition would give out, 
send word to Lieutenant Colonel Stevens to husband 
his resources, but he replied that there was no need 
to fear, as our friends, the French, would make up 
all deficiencies from their ample supply. To one who 
is familiar with the way in which Washington's opera- 
tions were hampered thruout the war by lack of 
ammunition, this incident epitomizes our debt to 
France. A few hours more of the fire of the French 
and American batteries would have annihilated the 
British force. October 19th the entire British force, 
naval and military, "surrendered themselves prisoners 
of war to the combined forces of America and France.'* 
The French arm.y, drawn up in their brilliant uni- 
forms, extended for more than a mile. Opposite them 
were the Americans. The uniforms of those who had 
had them were worn and tattered, but over them flew 
the Star-Spangled Banner, which that day took its 
real place among the flags of the independent nations 
of the earth. Between the allied lines marched the 
British army in new red coats, their colors cased and 
their band playing "The World's Turned Upside 
Down." The British general who represented Corn- 
wallis offered his sword to Rochambeau, who said, "I 
pointed opposite to General Washington at the head 
of the American army, and I said that the French 
army, being auxiliary upon that continent, it was to 
the American general he must look for his orders." 

Nothing in the war was received with such joy 
by the American people as the victory at Yorktown. 
The news was followed throughout the country by 
triumphant bonfires, illuminations, parades, orations 
and sermons. In Philadelphia the Continental Con- 
gress went in a body to church to a thanksgiving 
service. The victory was complete and final. The 
independence of the United jStates, which had been 
declared at Philadelphia, July 4, 1776, was achieved at 
Yorktown October 19, 1781. On that day a new nation 
was born and foreign domination was ended forever 

25 



in the United States. There is no brighter page in 
the history of the world. Yorktown was the capstone 
of the edifice of which Concord and Lexington, and 
Bunker Hill and Trenton, and Princeton and Mon- 
mouth were the foundations. England was quick to 
recognize that the war was over. The victory was 
almost as important in its results in the mother coun- 
try as in America. The old fogies who had impeded 
progress were no longer tolerated, and forces were 
set at work and reforms were instituted which made 
England really self-governing. If it had not been for 
Yorktown we should have had a Hanoverian kaiser 
as well as a Hohenzollern. The freedom of Australia 
and Canada, no less than that of the United 
States, was won by America and France united at 
Yorktown. On the day Cornwallis surrendered, Wash- 
ington gave as the parole 'Independence" and as the 
countersign "Rochambeau and De Grasse." In 1783, 
on the anniversary of the French alliance, Washing- 
ton's orderly book shows that the parole for the day 
was **America and France" and the countersign 
**United forever." 

April 9, 1781, Washington wrote Colonel John 
Laurens, who had been sent over to obtain assistance 
from France : "If France delays a timely and power- 
ful aid in the critical posture of our affairs, it will 
avail us nothing should she attempt it hereafter. We 
are at this hour suspended in the balance. Day does 
not follow night more certainly than it brings with 
it some additional proof of the impracticability of 
carrying on the war without the aids you were directed 
to solicit. As an honest and candid man, as a man 
whose all depends on the final and happy termination 
of the present contest, I assert this, while I give it 
decisively as my opinion that without a foreign loan 
our present force, which is but the remnant of an 
army, cannot be kept together this campaign, much 
less will it be increased and in readiness for another." 
Washington goes on to say that there is no money to 

26 



pay teamsters to carry provisions to the army, the 
troops are nearly naked, the hospitals without medi- 
cines and the sick without food except such as well 
men eat. *'We are at the end of our tether, and now 
or never our deliverance must come." 

Although France herself was in need, Laurens 
obtained from the French government a gift of 
6,000,000 francs. He brought back a portion of this 
in hard cash and part he spent for arms, ammunition 
and clothing. Franklin wrote in a letter sent by 
Laurens: ''This court continues firm and steady in 
its friendship and does everything it can for us. Can- 
not we do a little more for ourselves?" 

Everything we needed in that supreme hour 
France gave us. She supplied us with money when 
our own currency was utterly worthless; she supplied 
ships, arms, ammunition, troops and heroic leaders 
like Rochambeau and De Grasse, whose memory will 
always be dear to the American people. To save 
America France had to bankrupt herself. Professor 
Marion, of the College of France, thinks that partici- 
pation in our revolution cost France 2,000,000,000 
francs. Pickering, who was Secretary of State in 
1797, states that all the loans and supplies received 
from France during the war amounted to 53,000,000 
francs. It should be kept in mind that the population 
of France was then but 22,000,000 and that the pur- 
chasing power of money was at least three times as 
great as now. 

In the official list furnished by the French govern- 
ment are the names of 47,000 officers and men, of sixty- 
two vessels and thirteen regiments, who landed on our 
shores or cruised in our waters during our revolution. 
The greatest number ashore at one time was 8400. At 
Savannah the French lost 637 and at Yorktown 186. It 
is possible here to name but a few of the sons of 
France to whose efficient and unselfish services we owe 
so much. When skilled engineers were urgently needed 
Du Portail, Launoy, Radiere and Gouvion came to our 

27 



aid; officers who were esteemed in the French army 
and who combined practical ability with scientific 
training. They directed important works from 1777. 
Chevalier du Portail, who commanded the engineers at 
Yorktown, was made major general for his services at 
the siege on Washington's special recommendation. 
The death of Radiere in 1779 deprived America of his 
valuable services. M. de Gouvion, commandant of 
artillery and engineers, was distinguished at Yorktown 
and elsewhere. Launoy enjoyed the confidence and 
esteem of Washington. Fleury fought with such gal- 
lantry at Brandywine that Congress presented him with 
a horse in return for his own, which had been killed in 
battle, and he was conspicuous for his bravery at Ger- 
mantown. At Fort Mifflin he was chief engineer dur- 
ing the six weeks of the siege. He was severely 
wounded and was promoted to lieutenant colonel for 
his courage and skill. At Stony Point he was the first 
to mount the ramparts, and seized and carried off the 
British flag, for which he received a medal from Con- 
gress. For his services at Yorktown he received from 
France the cross of St. Louis and a pension. 

Washington speaks of the "great zeal, activity, 
vigilance, intelligence and courage'' of the Chevalier 
Armand, Marquis de la Rouerie. In 1783 he was made 
brigadier general. Washington wrote the President of 
Congress January 13, 1778 : "This will be delivered to 
you by the Chevalier Mauduit Duplessis, who was 
among the first French officers that joined the army of 
the United States. The gallant conduct of this young 
gentleman at Brandywine and Germantown, and his 
distinguished services at Fort Mercer, where he united 
the oflfices of engineer and commandant of artillery, 
entitle him to the particular notice of Congress. He 
made several judicious alterations in the works at Red 
Bank, showed great good conduct during the action in 
which the Hessians were repulsed, and was spoken of, 
in consequence, in terms of the highest applause by 
the commanding officer of the post. After the evacua- 

28 



tion was determined upon he became the means of sav- 
ing some valuable artillery and stores, and cheerfully 
undertook as volunteer, the hazardous operation of 
blowing up the magazines without the apparatus usual- 
ly provided upon such occasions. I must further add 
in Monsieur Duplessis's favor that he possesses a 
degree of modesty not always found in men who have 
performed brilliant actions." 

M. Tousard, a French officer attached to Lafayette, 
rushed boldly forward in an attempt to capture a can- 
non on Rhode Island and was surrounded by British. 
His horse was killed under him, he lost his right arm, 
but he escaped capture. Congress made him brevet 
lieutenant colonel and gave him a life pension. La 
Perouse, the daring navigator and explorer, who 
in 1788 was lost at sea with his entire expedition, 
carried young Rochambeau back to France, he pass- 
ing through the British blockading fleet in a storm, 
which carried away his mast. When Baron St. 
Ovary, who aided Lafayette in rallying the Americans, 
was taken prisoner at Brandywine, Congress called him 
"a gallant gentleman from France, engaged as a volun- 
teer in the service of the United States, and lately, by 
the fortune of war, made prisoner by the British." 
Count Charles de Lameth was severely wounded at 
Yorktown. We are indebted to France for the valuable 
services of Steuben and De Kalb. The French minister 
of war, St. Germain, induced his old friend and com- 
panion in the army. Baron Steuben, to come to America 
to train Washington's army, and the French govern- 
ment made itself responsible for Steuben's expenses. 
He was a brave man, of great ability, who had seen 
long service under the greatest masters of military 
affairs of the time, and had been on the staff of Fred- 
erick the Great. It was on a ship provided by Beau- 
marchais that Steuben came, and Beaumarchais 
advanced to him 6000 francs for his outfit. In the ship 
were military stores and several French officers, among 
them L'Enf ant, who later planned the city of Washing- 

29 



ton and remodeled the city hall in New York for the 
use of Congress. L'Enfant was wounded while he was 
leading the advance in Lincoln's assault on Savannah. 
He was captured at the siege of Charleston. Baron De 
Kalb, who was mortally wounded at Cowpens, had seen 
more than thirty years of military service before he 
came to America. His aide-de-camp, Chevalier 
Dubuysson, wrote that De Kalb withstood '*with the 
brave Marylanders alone the furious charge of the 
whole British army; but superior bravery was obliged 
at length to yield to superior numbers, and the baron, 
having had his horse killed under him, fell into the 
hands of the enemy, pierced with eight wounds by 
bayonets and three musket balls. I stood by the baron 
during the action and shared his fate, being taken by 
his side, wounded in both arms and hands." 

It will be necessary to devote a special section to 
the efficient and devoted services which Lafayette ren- 
dered to our country. 

Rochambeau thus describes the meeting with the 
American forces when the first division of the French 
army, returning from the south, arrived at Kings 
Ferry, September 15, 1782: "General Washington, 
wishing to testify his respect for France and his 
recognition of the benefits she had rendered, caused us 
to pass between two lines of troops, clad, equipped and 
armed with clothing and arms from France, and from 
the English magazines taken at Yorktovni, which the 
French army had relinquished to the Americans. He 
ordered the drums to beat a French march during the 
whole review, and the two armies rejoined with the 
most lively demonstrations of reciprocal satisfaction." 
The French army under Viomenil sailed for home from 
Boston December 24, 1782. Rochambeau, Chastellux 
and De Choisy sailed from Annapolis January 11, 
1783. De Lauzun's troops sailed from the Delaware 
capes May 12, 1783, with some others who had been left 
by Rochambeau to remove artillery and stores from 
York town. 

30 



The letters which were exchanged between Wash- 
ington and our French allies are creditable to both 
nations, for they are the words of high-minded men 
who had made common cause for humanity. They are 
more than mere expressions of courtesy, they are warm 
with real emotion. As Rochambeau was on the point of 
sailing for France Washington wrote him : "I cannot 
permit you to depart from this country without repeat- 
ing to you the high sense I entertain of the services you 
have rendered to America, by the constant attention 
which you have paid to the interest of it, by the exact 
order and discipline of the corps under your command, 
and by your readiness at all times to give facility to 
every measure which the force of the combined armies 
were competent to." The Maryland Assembly sent 
Rochambeau an address which stated : "We view with 
regret the departure of troops which have so conducted, 
so endeared, and so distinguished themselves, and we 
pray that the laurels they have gathered before York- 
town may never fade, and that victory to whatever 
quarter of the globe they direct their arms, may follow 
their standard." 

On the first anniversary of Yorktown Washing- 
ton gave a dinner to the French officers who were sail- 
ing three days later and were never to see him again. 
Closen says : "There is no sort of kindness and tokens 
of goodwill we have not received from General Wash- 
ington; the idea of parting from the French army, 
probably forever, seemed to cause him real sorrow, 
having, as he had, received the most convincing proofs 
of the respect, the veneration, the esteem, and even the 
attachment which every individual in the army felt for 
him." Luzerne wrote Washington: "I cannot deny 
myself the pleasure of informing you of the senti- 
ments with which the reports of the French officers, 
on their return to Versailles, inspired the court and 
nation toward your excellency. Their testimony can 
add nothing to the universal opinion respecting the 
great services which you have rendered to your coun- 

31 



try, but, to the esteem and admiration of the French, 
will henceforth be added a sentiment of affection and 
attachment which is a just return for the attentions 
our officers have received from you, and for the 
progress they have made in their profession by serving 
under your orders." 

Washington wrote Baron Antoine Viomenil, who 
was second in command to Rochambeau, December 
7, 1782: "The many great and amiable qualities 
which you possess have inspired me with the greatest 
sentiments of esteem for your character." Baron 
Viomenil replied: "The veneration with which this 
army was penetrated from the first moment they had 
the honor of being presented to your excellency by 
Comte de Rochambeau, their confidence in yo^r talents 
and the wisdom of your orders, the remembrance of 
your kindness and attention and the example you set 
them in every critical circumstance, the approbation, 
regret and wishes you have honored them with at their 
departure; these are considerations by which you may 
be assured there is not an individual officer in this 
army who is not sensibly touched as he is flattered by 
your approbation." Antoine Viomenil was mortally 
wounded defending the royal family in the attack on 
the Tuilleries. His brother, Charles Joseph Viomenil, 
was afterward governor of Martinique and a marshal 
of France. 

December 14, 1782, Washington wrote Chastellux: 
"A sense of your public services to this country and 
gratitude for your private friendship quite overcame 
me at the moment of our separation. But I should do 
violence to my feelings and inclination were I to suffer 
you to leave this country without the warmest 
assurances of an affectionate regard for your person 
and character." Washington wrote Lauzun May 10, 
1783: "Your particular services, sir, with the polite- 
ness, zeal and attention which I have ever experienced 
from you, have made a deep and lasting impression on 
my mind and will serve to endear you to my remem- 

32 



brance. It would have been a great satisfaction to 
have had another opportunity to give you in person 
the assurances of my regard could your orders have 
permitted your longer continuance in the country." 

Rochambeau wrote of Washington: 'Trom the 
moment we began to correspond with one another I 
never ceased to enjoy the soundness of his judgment 
and the amenity of his style in a very long correspond- 
ence which is likely not to end before the death of one 
of us." 

May 10, 1783, Washington wrote Rochambeau: 
"To the generous help of your nation and to the 
bravery of her forces must be attributed, to a very 
large extent, that independence for which we have 
striven and which, after a severe contest of more than 
seven years, we have secured. The first wish of my 
heart is to pay the tribute of respect to a country to 
which, by public and private considerations, I feel 
myself attached by the most affectionate ties." As I 
have been unable to obtain the original of this letter, 
I am retranslating it from the French. July 13, 1783, 
Rochambeau wrote Washington: ^'I see you at the 
glorious end of all your toils and with the desire to 
come to France. Try, my dear general, to effectuate 
this project. Let nothing oppose itself to the idea. 
Come and receive in a country which honors you and 
which has admired you the plaudits due to a great 
man. You may be assured of a reception without 
example. You will be received as you desire to be, 
after a revolution which has not its like in history. 
Everybody smiles already at the hopes you give me 
in your letter, and my heart beats with pleasure at the 
thought of embracing you once more. 

"It seems to me you should embark about the begin- 
ning of October, so as to be here about the beginning 
of November. You will then find the court returned 
from Fontainebleau. You will pass your winter in 
the midst of the gayeties of Paris and Versailles, 
and in the spring we will carry you to our country 

33 



seats. Come, my dear general, and satisfy the desires 
of a nation whose hearts are already yours." 

Washington wrote Rochambeau February 1, 1784, 
these words, which have been placed on the pedestal 
of the statue of Rochambeau in Washington: "We 
have been contemporaries and fellow-workers in the 
cause of liberty and we have lived together as brothers 
should do in harmonious friendship." Washington 
wrote Rochambeau from Mount Vernon that he was 
engaged "in rural employments and in contemplation 
of those friendships which the revolution enabled me 
to form with so many worthy characters of your nation, 
through whose assistance I can now sit down in my 
calm retreat." In 1786 Washington wrote Rocham- 
beau: "The sincerity, honor and bravery of your 
troops, the high-minded patriotism and the delicate 
sympathy which animate so many of your compatriots, 
with whom, I venture to say, I am intimately 
acquainted, and, above all, the keen interest which 
your illustrious monarch and his loyal subjects have 
taken in the success of the American cause and in the 
development of our independence, have made your 
nation very dear to me and have formed ties and left 
us impressions which neither time nor circumstances 
can destroy." In 1789 Rochambeau was made governor 
of Alsace. He also became marshal of France, and 
Napoleon gave him a pension and the grand cross of 
the Legion of Honor. 

The key of the Bastile, now at Mount Vernon, 
was sent to Washington by Lafayette, who wrote: 
"It is a tribute which I owe as a son to my adopted 
father, as an aide-de-camp to my general, as a mis- 
sionary of liberty to its patriarch." The French Con- 
vention in 1792 conferred on Washington the title of 
citizen of France because he was "one of the bene- 
factors of mankind." As a sacred emblem of liberty 
the American flag was displayed in the hall where the 
convention met. French officers presented Mrs. Wash- 
ington with a dinner service, each piece with her 

34 



initials in the center. On the news of Washington's 
death, the French republic went into mourning. 
Officers wore crape for ten days, flags were half masted 
and Bonaparte issued a proclamation in which he said : 
"Washington is dead. This great man fought tyranny. 
He established on a safe basis the liberty of his country. 
His memory will ever be dear to the French people, 
as well as to all the free men of the two worlds, and 
especially to French soldiers." In the presence of 
Napoleon the celebrated orator Fontanes delivered at 
the Invalides a funeral eulogy, in which he said: 
* 'Washington's work is scarcely perfected and it is 
already surrounded by that veneration that is usually 
bestowed only on what has been consecrated by time. 
The American revolution, of which we are contempor- 
aries, seems now consolidated forever. Washington 
began it by his energy and achieved it by his modera- 
tion. In rendering a public homage to Washington, 
France pays a debt to him by the two worlds." 

The Frenchman Houdon has given us in his statue 
what is acknowledged to be the best likeness of Wash- 
ington. It is to Houdon's everlasting credit that he 
insisted on braving the perils of the ocean in order that 
he might do his work from life in the most perfect 
manner. Houdon's statue of Washington is not the 
least of the debts we owe to France. I have studied 
most of the galleries of Europe and I doubt if there 
is another work of art in the world in which historic 
interest is so combined with artistic excellence. The 
descriptions of Washington, which have been left us 
by the soldier authors of France who knew and loved 
him, are numerous and appreciative. 

We hear so much about the soldiers of France that 
her sailors are sometimes overlooked. Among them 
were great men who rendered inestimable services to 
our country. Where can we find in history another 
instance of an admiral like D'Estaing leading his forces 
in a land attack and being twice wounded ? Those who 
served under De Grasse said : "Our admiral is six feet 
high on ordinary days and six feet six on battle days." 

35 



Paul Jones wrote Silas Deane of the exchange of 
salutes for the first time between 'Treedom's Flag and 
that of France," February 14, 1778, at Quibeon Bay, 
and he added: *The French squadron is officered by 
a well-bred set of men, all of whom have visited the 
Ranger and expressed great satisfaction, calling her 
*un parfait Bijou'; when we visited their ships we 
were received with every mark of respect and gladness 
and saluted with a *feu de joie'." 

The only time Washington had control of the sea 
was at Yorktown, and he put an end to the war there. 
If he had controlled the sea at Boston, he could have 
ended it five years sooner, but we had no French allies 
at Boston. France was acknowledged to be the most 
powerful country in the world on land, and in 1781 
was able to dispute the control of the sea with Britain. 
Washington called the French fleet "the most numer- 
ous and powerful that ever appeared in these seas." 
The French navy was charged not only with carrying 
on the war by sea with the greatest naval power in 
the world, but also with the transportation of troops 
and supplies. The services which France had to ren- 
der in taking up our cause include not only the naval 
and military forces sent to our shores, but also the 
protection of her own ports and colonies against power- 
ful fleets and operations in Europe, Africa and Asia. 
On the other hand, when France came into the war, 
England had to protect her possessions, in the West 
Indies, Africa and India and on the Mediterranean. If 
it had not been for Warren Hastings she might have 
lost India. 

It is among the proudest achievements of our na- 
tion that we have now proved that we are not unworthy 
of all that France has done for us. I do not know a 
man in the United States army who would not have 
gone over to fight for France, if it had been in his 
power to get there. Perilous seas divided, but thanks 
to our efficient navy, a thousand leagues of water could 
not separate us, and American blood has mingled with 

36 



French blood to liberate and to consecrate the soil of 
France. New glory has been added to Old Glory. The 
red, white and blue of the flags of America and of 
France have been united in battle and are now united 
in victory. As France came in our hour of supreme 
need and exerted the determining influence when our 
armies had been struggling for years in the American 
revolution, so America has been privileged to provide 
in France the determining influence in the world war. 
Lafayette wrote of the American revolution, "Never 
had so noble a purpose offered itself to the judgment 
of men ! This was the last struggle of liberty ; its de- 
feat then would have left it without a refuge and with- 
out hope." These words also exactly describe the situa- 
tion in France when America entered the World War. 
As Lafayette counted it the greatest honor of his dis- 
tinguished life to have served under Washington, so 
Pershing has been proud to serve under Foch. "Lafay- 
ette, we're here," is with one exception the most 
practically eloquent speech that I know. It is com- 
parable to the speech that Washington made in Vir- 
ginia at the beginning of the revolution. "I will raise 
a thousand men at my own expense and march at their 
head to the relief of Boston." 

I have now told the wonderful story of what 
France, our ancient ally, did for us at a time when no 
one else would help us. Washington wrote Luzerne 
March 29, 1783 — "The articles of the general treaty 
do not appear so favorable to France, in point of terri- 
torial acquisitions, as they do to other powers. But 
the magnanimous and disinterested scale of action, 
which that great nation has exhibited to the world dur- 
ing this war, and at the conclusion of peace, will insure 
to the king and nation that reputation, which will be 
of more consequence to them than every other consid- 
eration." Washington's farsighted vision has proved 
correct in this, as in so many other instances. Wash- 
ington wrote D'Estaing: "The welfare of the French 
nation cannot but be dear to this country, and that its 

37 



happiness may in the end be established on the most 
permanent and liberal foundation is the ardent wish 
of every true American." 

As long as the children of America have a morsel 
of bread they should share it v^ith the orphans of 
France. Our army and our navy have done their part 
nobly to repay our debt to France. What are the 
people of America going to do? 



II 



What Lafayette Did 
FOR America 



In justice to the memory of Lafayette it is neces- 
sary that a statement should be made of the priceless 
services which he rendered to our country in its time 
of utmost need, for that there is an astonishing mis- 
understanding of them is shown in an article in a 
prominent magazine which states: "He was never 
a great fighter, and his military career in America, 
though respectable, was not distinguished. It is 
hard to know what peculiar and signal service he 
rendered." Lafayette voiced the spirit of France when 
he wrote: *'The moment I heard of America I loved 
her ; the moment I knew she was fighting for freedom, 
I burned with a desire of bleeding for her; and the 
moment I shall be able to serve her, at any time or in 
any part of the world, will be the happiest one of my 



life." Lafayette became the living expression of the 
beautiful soul of France. He was honorable, chival- 
rous and of noble birth; a warrior by heredity and 
training, his father had died gloriously at the age of 
twenty-five at the head of his regiment on the field of 
battle. Young Lafayette was lieutenant in a crack regi- 
ment and had been well drilled in the rudiments of his 
profession. His stubborness — or shall we say pertinac- 
ity — made him stick to his purpose of coming to our 
aid in spite of all the obstacles which a government as 
yet neutral was forced to put in his way. The marquis 
was nearly six feet tall, with broad shoulders, high 
forehead and beautiful hazel eyes. He wrote: "In 
presenting my 19-year-old face to Mr. Deane I spoke 
more of my zeal than of my experience," and he added, 
"It is precisely in time of danger that I wish to 
share whatever fortune may have in store for you." 
The only reward which he asked for his services was 
to be enrolled as an American soldier under General 
Washington. 

Lafayette had a yearly income of 200,000 francs, 
equal in purchasing power to at least $100,000 at the 
present time. He left his wife and child, bought a 
ship, and in order to buy the ship he had to buy its 
cargo. He brought with him to America De Kalb and 
twelve other officers, one of whom was Colonel de Val- 
fort, who later, as director of the military school at 
Brienne, became the chief instructor of Napoleon 
Bonaparte. On the voyage Lafayette wrote his wife 
that he thought his service under Washington would 
be "a brevet of immortality. The happiness of Amer- 
ica is intimately connected with the happiness of all 
mankind ; she is destined to become the safe and vener- 
able asylum of virtue, of honesty, of tolerance, of 
equality and of peaceful liberty." It took them fifty-four 
days to make the voyage to South Carolina, and thirty- 
two more to journey on horseback to Philadelphia, 
where, at a public dinner, early in August, 1777, Lafa- 
yette first met Washington. He writes: "Although 

39 



he was surrounded by officers and citizens it was impos- 
sible to mistake for a moment his majestic figure and 
deportment ; nor was he less distinguished by the noble 
affability of his manner." The day after this dinner 
Washington invited Lafayette to go with him to inspect 
the forts on the Delaware. 

Although less than twenty, Lafayette was commis- 
sioned major general by Congress July 31, 1777. 

The Journal of Congress thus records his appoint- 
ment : * 'Whereas the Marquis of Lafayette, out of his 
great zeal to the cause of liberty, in which the United 
States are engaged, has left his family and connexions, 
and at his own expense, come over to offer his services 
to the United States, without pension or particular 
allowance, and is anxious to risk his life in our cause ; 
Resolved, That his service be accepted, and that in con- 
sideration of his zeal, his illustrious family and con- 
nexions, he have the rank and commission of major 
general in the army of the United States.*' 

Lafayette soon won the affection and respect of 
the American army by his bravery and self-denial. He 
had to work hard; every one did who served under 
Washington; but, though brought up in luxury, no 
fatigue was too great for him to endure. He wrote: 
"I study, I read, I examine, I listen, I reflect, and upon 
the result of all this I make an effort to form an 
opinion, and to put into it as much common sense as 
I can. I am cautious not to talk much, lest I should 
say some foolish thing, and still more cautious in my 
actions, lest I should do some foolish thing, for I do 
not wish to disappoint the confidence that the Ameri- 
cans have so kindly placed in me.** Three weeks after 
he met Washington, Lafayette wrote his wife: "This 
excellent man, whose talents and virtues I admired, 
and whom I have learned to revere as I know him 
better, has now become my intimate friend ; his affec- 
tionate interest in me instantly won my heart. I am 
established in his house, and we live together like two 
attached brothers with mutual confidence and cordial- 

40 



ity. This friendship renders me as happy as I can 
possibly be in this country." Lafayette wrote his 
father-in-law: "Our general is a man truly made for 
this revolution, which could not be successfully accom- 
plished without him. I see him nearer than any other 
man in the world ; and I see that he is worthy of the 
adoration of his country. His warm friendship and 
his entire confidence in me in regard to all military 
and political subjects, great and small, that occupy 
him, place me in a situation to judge of all that he has 
to perform, to reconcile and^ to overcome. I admire 
him more each day for the beauty of his character and 
of his mind." Letters like this had great influence in 
France. 

Lafayette wrote Washington : "The only favor I 
have asked of your commissioner in France has been, 
not to be under any orders but those of General Wash- 
ington. I seem to have had an anticipation of our 
future friendship ; and what I have done out of esteem 
and respect for your excellency's name and reputation 
I should do now for mere love for General Washing- 
ton himself. Anything, my dear general, you will order 
or even wish, shall always be infinitely agreeable to 
me, and I will always feel happy in doing anything 
which may please you, or forward the public good." 

September 11, 1777, at the Battle of the Brandy- 
wine, when the Americans were making a disorderly 
retreat, Lafayette dismounted, and while bravely striv- 
ing to re-form them, a bullet passed through his leg, 
but he carried on until the blood was flowing from his 
boot and he had to be removed from the field. He 
wrote to his wife: "The honor to have mingled my 
blood with that of many other American soldiers on 
the heights of the Brandywine has been to me a source 
of pride and delight." Of Washington's affectionate 
interest at this time Lafayette wrote : "When he sent 
his surgeon-in-chief to me, he directed him to care for 
me as if I were his son, because he loved me as much ; 
and, having heard that I wanted to join the army too 

41 



soon again he wrote a letter full of tenderness, in which 
he admonished me to wait until I should be entirely 
well." Lafayette went back to the army about October 
20th, before he was able to wear a boot. Count Dumas, 
aide to General Rochambeau, records that more than 
three years later, in January, 1781, when a number of 
French gentlemen were visiting West Point, General 
Washington perceived, as they were about to mount 
their horses, that Lafayette, in consequence of his old 
wound received at the battle of the Brandywine, was 
very much fatigued, and on that account they returned 
to headquarters by boat. When Lafayette was ill, 
Washington rode the eight miles from headquarters to 
Fishkill every day for three weeks to ask after him, 
though the commander-in-chief was not allowed to see 
him till he was better. 

Of an engagement near Gloucester, N. J., late in 
November, 1777, General Greene wrote Washington: 
**The marquis, with about 4,00 militia and the rifle corps, 
attacked the enemy's picket last evening, killed about 
twenty, wounded many more and took about twenty 
prisoners. The marquis is charmed with the spirited 
behavior of the militia and rifle corps ; they drove the 
enemy about half a mile, and kept the ground until 
dark. The enemy's picket consisted of about 300, and 
were reinforced during the skirmish. The marquis 
is determined to be in the way of danger." December 
1, 1777, Lafayette was assigned to the command of a 
division. This was one of the four divisions at Valley 
Forge, where he outwitted the enemy when they had 
his force nearly surrounded at Barren Hill. Of this 
engagement Washington wrote : "The marquis, by de- 
pending on the militia to patrol the roads to his left, 
had very nearly been caught in a snare — in fact, he 
was in it, but by his own dexterity or by the enemy's 
want of it, he disengaged himself in a very soldierly 
manner, and by an orderly and well-conducted retreat 
got out." Lafayette wrote of Valley Forge: "The 
patient endurance of both soldiers and officers was a 

42 



miracle which every moment serves to renew; but the 
sacred fire of liberty was not extinguished." 

Washington's success was largely due to the fact 
that he was an accurate judge of men; his estimate of 
Lafayette is: '*He possesses uncommon military tal- 
ents — is of a quick and sound judgment, persevering 
and enterprising without rashness/' Washington also 
wrote : *'He unites to all the military fire of youth an 
uncommon maturity of judgment/' When the enemies 
of Washington were dining at York while the General 
and his army were suffering at Valley Forge, Lafa- 
yette, who happened to be present, rose and reminded 
the party that there was one toast they had omitted, 
and then gave, "The Commander-in-chief." There is 
something superbly courageous in this French boy thus 
correcting those who were superior to him in age, but 
not in loyalty. Lafayette wrote Steuben with regard 
to Washington: "No enemies to that great man can 
be found, except among the enemies of his country; 
nor is it possible for a man of a loving spirit to 
refrain from loving the excellent qualities of his heart. 
I think I know him as well as any person, and such is 
the idea which I have formed of him. His honesty, his 
frankness, his sensibility, his virtue to the full extent 
in which this word can be understood, are above all 
praise. It is not for me to judge of his military tal- 
ents ; but according to my imperfect knowledge of these 
matters, his advice in council has always appeared the 
best, although his modesty prevents him sometimes 
from sustaining it, and his predictions have generally 
been fulfilled." 

Washington loved Lafayette best of all men, and 
those who consider his nature cold should read his let- 
ters to the young Frenchman. He wrote Lafayette: 
"The sentiments of affection and attachment, which 
breathe so conspicuously in all your letters to me, are 
at once pleasing and honorable, and afford me abundant 
cause to rejoice at the happiness of my acquaintance 
with you. Your love of liberty, the just sense you 

43 



entertain of this valuable blessing, and your noble and 
disinterested exertions in the cause of it, added to the 
innate goodness of your heart, conspire to render you 
dear to me ; and I think myself happy in being linked 
with you in bonds of the strictest friendship." 

In 1779, Lafayette returned to France on a fur- 
lough, and in a letter to Franklin, who was represent- 
ing America in France, Washington thus sums up 
Lafayette's services to our country up to that time: 
"The generous motives which first induced him to cross 
the Atlantic ; the tribute which he paid to gallantry at 
the Brandywine; his success in Jersey before he had 
recovered from his wounds, in an affair where he com- 
manded militia against British grenadiers; the bril- 
liant retreat, by which he eluded a combined maneuver 
of the whole British force in the last campaign; the 
services in the enterprise against Rhode Island, are 
such proofs of his zeal, military ardor and talents as 
have endeared him to America." Washington does not 
mention here the efficient work of Lafayette in the pur- 
suit of the British through New Jersey which culmi- 
nated in the battle of Monmouth, where victory was 
snatched from our arms by the treason of Charles Lee. 

When Lafayette first went to America he was 
obliged to sail secretly, because France was not yet at 
war with Great Britain. On his return to his native 
land, Lafayette was the hero of the hour and the recog- 
nized authority on American military affairs with the 
French government. Duniol, who has written the most 
important work on the relations between France and 
America, says that Vergennes, the French minister of 
foreign affairs, had yielded like Washington, to the 
charm of Lafayette, whose sagacity and clearness of 
vision, combined with his youth and enthusiasm, had 
made as great an impression at Versailles as they had 
with the army of the United States and with Congress. 
The services which Lafayette rendered to our coun- 
try on this visit are by far the most important of his 
life, for it was largely due to his persistence that 

44 



France sent such powerful forces under Rochambeau 
and De Grasse that the war was brought to a victorious 
end at Yorktown, and it was at Lafayette's suggestion 
that the order was given that French forces should 
yield precedence to the American troops. I cite the 
following authorities to show the recognized import- 
ance of the work which Lafayette did for the United 
States at this time. Hon. Charlemagne Tower states 
that Lafayette's incessant presentation of the Ameri- 
can cause to the cabinet of King Louis XVI, and par- 
ticularly to the Comte de Vergennes and the Comte 
de Maurepas, had an influence which contributed very 
greatly to the ultimate establishment of independence 
in the United States. 

Edward Everett wrote: "Considerable discontent 
had arisen in connection with Count d'Estaing's move- 
ments in Rhode Island, which had it not been allayed 
by the prudent and effectual mediation of Lafayette 
would probably have prevented a French army from 
being sent over to the United States. He pursued the 
object with an ardor, an industry and adroitness which 
nothing could surpass. When his correspondence with 
the French ministers, particularly the Count de Ver- 
gennes, shall be published it will appear that it was 
mainly the personal efforts and personal influence of 
Lafayette, idol of the French people as he had made 
himself, which caused the army of Rochambeau to be 
sent to America." 

Sparks, who knew Lafayette personally, comments 
on Everett's statement : "This is an accurate view of 
facts. By repeated conferences with the ministers, by 
unwearied zeal and unceasing solicitation, he at length 
roused the attention of the French court, and accom- 
plished his purpose; taking upon himself the entire 
responsibility in regard to America, and to the manner 
in which the army would be received by the people. 
The event showed with how much discrimination he 
had studied their character." As a small specimen of 
Lafayette's important work I submit the following ex- 

45 



tract from a letter which he wrote Vergennes May 20, 
1780: "Without being prejudiced, sir, by the affec- 
tionate friendship which attaches me to General Wash- 
ington, I can answer for it that the French generals 
and troops will have nothing but praise for his upright- 
ness, for his delicacy, for that frank and noble polite- 
ness which characterizes him ; whilst at the same time 
they will admire his great qualities." Such was the 
impression which Lafayette had made in France that 
La Touche-Treville, commander of the Hermione, on 
which his government sent the marquis back to Amer- 
ica, who is described by Rochambeau as a man dis- 
tinguished by his zeal, valor, talents and nobility of 
character, when he received his instructions replied: 
"I shall show to the Marquis de La Fayette all the 
respect and consideration which are prescribed not 
only by your orders to me, but by the dictates of my 
own heart toward a man whose acts have inspired me 
with the greatest desire to know him. I consider it a 
favor that an opportunity has been given me to prove 
the high esteem in which I hold him.'' 

On his arrival in Boston April 28, 1780, Lafayette 
had a triumphant reception. Washington wrote to 
Luzerne, the minister of France to the United States: 
"You will participate in the joy I feel at the arrival of 
the Marquis de Lafayette. No event could have given 
me greater pleasure on a personal account, and motives 
of public utility conspire to make it agreeable. He 
announces a fresh and striking instance of the friend- 
ship of your court, which cannot fail to contribute 
greatly to perpetuate the gratitude of this country." 
Washington wrote Congress : "During the time he has 
been in France he has uniformly manifested the same 
zeal in our affairs which animated his conduct while 
he was among us ; and he has been on all occasions an 
essential friend to America." Lafayette wrote the 
president of Congress: "If from an early epoch in 
our noble contest I gloried in the name of an American 
soldier and heartily enjoyed the honors I have of serv- 

46 



ing the United States, my satisfaction is at this long- 
wished for moment entirely complete — when putting 
an end to my furlough, I have been able again to join 
my colors, under which I may hope for opportunities 
of indulging the ardent zeal, the unbounded gratitude, 
the warm, and, I might say, the patriotic love by which 
I am forever bound to America." Lafayette had pur- 
chased in France with his own money a large quantity 
of clothing and arms, which he distributed to his 
men, so that his command was the best dressed in the 
American army. When the allied generals met at 
Hartford, as Washington could not speak French and 
Rochambeau knew no English, Lafayette acted as 
interpreter. When Lafayette borrowed 2000 guineas 
from the merchants of Baltimore to clothe his men in 
1781, Washington wrote him: "The measures you 
had taken to obtain, on your own credit, a supply of 
clothing and necessaries for the detachment must 
entitle you to all their gratitude and affection, and will, 
at the same time that it endears your name, if pos- 
sible, still more to this country, be an everlasting monu- 
ment of your ardent zeal and attachment to its cause 
and the establishment of its independence. For my 
own part, my dear marquis, although I stood in need 
of no new proofs of your exertions and your sacrifices 
in the cause of America, I will confess to you that I 
shall not be able to express the pleasing sensations I 
have experienced at your unparalleled and repeated 
instances of generosity and zeal for the service on 
every occasion." 

Lafayette's brilliant campaign in Virginia in 1781 
resulted in the penning up of Cornwallis at Yorktown. 
Of the battle of Green Spring, during these operations, 
Anthony Wayne, writing from near Jamestown, July 
8, 1781, says: "Our field officers were generally dis- 
mounted by having their horses either killed or 
wounded under them. I will not condole with the 
marquis for the loss of two of his, as he was fre- 
quently requested to keep at a greater distance. His 

47 



native bravery rendered him deaf to the admonition." 
No man who served under Washington was braver 
than Anthony Wayne, and his opinion with regard to 
the courage of Lafayette must be considered that of 
an expert. 

Let us see now what the historians think of the 
importance of this campaign and of the mihtary skill 
with which Lafayette carried it on: Fiske remarks 
that throughout the game of strategy in Virginia 
Lafayette proved himself a worthy antagonist for the 
ablest of the British generals. Charlemagne Tower 
says that Lafayette "manoeuvred with such caution 
and such good judgment through Virginia, back and 
forth across its innumerable rivers and smaller 
streams, annoying the enemy, keeping out of their 
way, harassing their rear and yet preventing them 
from establishing themselves that Lord Cornwallis was 
forced to retire toward the coast in order to strengthen 
his army before undertaking what he called *solid 
operations.' During a difficult campaign Lafayette had 
made no serious mistakes. By his untiring energy and 
courage he had animated the Virginians to renewed 
efforts; he had protected their property, and, hav- 
ing kept his army intact, he barred the way by land 
by which Cornwallis might escape from his perilous 
situation." Lafayette had forced Cornwallis into a 
neck of land surrounded by deep water. This afforded 
one of the greatest opportunities in the history of the 
world, and it was made possible by a Frenchman on 
land and a Frenchman on water. That Lafayette held 
the key to the military situation in America and the 
great confidence which was felt in him are showii by 
the instructions which Washington sent him on August 
21st: *'As it will be of great importance toward the 
success of our present enterprise that the enemy on 
the arrival of the fleet should not have it in their 
power to effect their retreat, I cannot omit to repeat 
to you my most earnest wish that the land and naval 
forces which you have with you may so combine their 

48 



operations that the British army may not be able 
to escape. The particular mode of doing this I shall 
not at this distance attempt to dictate. Your own 
knowledge of the country, from your long continuance 
in it and the various and extended movements which 
you have made, have given you great opportunities 
for observation, of which I am persuaded your mili- 
tary genius and judgment will lead you to make the 
best improvement." How efficiently Lafayette did this 
work is clear from the following extract from a letter 
which he wrote Washington September 1st: *1 hope 
you will find that we have taken the best precautions 
to lessen his lordship's chances to escape. He has a 
few left, but so very precarious that I hardly believe 
he will make the attempt. If he does, he must give 
up ships, artillery, baggage, part of the horses, all the 
negroes; he must be certain to lose the third of his 
army and run the greatest risk to lose the whole with- 
out gaining that glory which he may derive from a 
brilliant siege." The fleet of De Grasse brought more 
than 3000 regulars with formidable artillery under the 
Marquis de Saint Simon, who, although a field marshal, 
was willing to serve under Lafayette, and that Lafay- 
ette was equally regardless of his own rank is shown 
by the following: From near Williamsburg, Septem- 
ber 8th, Lafayette wrote Washington: "The French 
troops, my dear general, have landed with amazing 
celerity; they have already been wanting flour, meat 
and salt, not so much, however, as to be one day with- 
out. I have been night and day with the quarter- 
master collector, and have drawn myself into a violent 
headache and fever, which will go off with three hours' 
sleep, the want of which has occasioned it." 

De Grasse and Saint Simon were anxious to 
return as quickly as possible to the West Indies and 
demanded that Lafayette should attack Cornwallis 
at once, the admiral offering to send in addition to all 
his marines as many sailors as Lafayette might wish. 
This would have given a sufficient force to capture 

49 



Comwallis before the arrival of Washington. Mr. 
Tower says: **There is no doubt that the attachment 
of the Marquis de Lafayette to General Washington 
and his tenacity at this juncture preserved for the 
great American commander the glory of laying out 
and executing the plans of the Yorktown campaign. 
It is one of the finest examples of Lafayette's per- 
sonal loyalty and unselfishness, of which he gave so 
many during his service in the revolutionary war. 
In the absence of instructions, and believing that the 
combined forces in Virginia were fully equal to the 
reduction of Lord Cornwallis, they wished to proceed. 
But Lafayette was the major general commanding, 
and he stood firm in his decision to await the arrival 
of his chief, his patron and his steadfast friend." On 
the arrival of Washington, September 14th, Lafayette's 
independent command terminated, and he resumed his 
position as major general commanding a division of 
continental light infantry, and, as he had uniformly 
done, he exerted a powerful influence in maintaining 
the harmonious co-operation of the allied forces. If 
it had not been for Lafayette's personal efforts with 
De Grasse at this time it is not unlikely that the 
French admiral would have put to sea with his fleet 
and our independence might never have been estab- 
lished. Lafayette spent his twenty-fourth birthday 
at the siege of Yorktown. October 14th Washington 
ordered the works of Cornwallis to be assaulted by 
two detachments of picked men, one of French under 
Viomenil and the other of Americans under Lafayette. 
Viomenil expressed doubts as to whether the Amer- 
icans would be equal to the work, but they charged 
with the bayonet and without firing a shot captured 
their redoubt with many prisoners, including Major 
Campbell, while the forces of Viomenil were still strug 
gling with the redoubt assigned to them. Lafayette 
had the satisfaction of sending a message to Viomenil 
asking if he required the assistance of his Americans. 
At the surrender of Comwallis, Lafayette was at th^- 

50 



side of Washington among his beloved Americans and 
not with his own illustrious fellow-countrymen. The 
first news of the signing of a general treaty of peace 
at Paris on January 20, 1783, was brought to America 
by a French man-of-war, the Triumph, sent by 
Lafayette from D'Estaing's fleet at Cadiz. She 
reached Philadelphia March 23d, and brought the 
President of Congress the following letter from 
Lafayette : 

''Having been at some pains to engage a vessel 
to go to Philadelphia, I now find myself happily relieved 
by the kindness of Count D'Estaing. He is just now 
pleased to tell me that he will dispatch a French ship, 
and, by way of compliment on the occasion, he has 
made choice of the Triumph, so that I am not with- 
out hopes of giving Congress the first tidings of a gen- 
eral peace, and I am happy in the smallest opportunity 
of doing anything that may prove agreeable to 
America." 

Washington wrote Lafayette April 5, 1783, that 
his letter of February 5th, from Cadiz, was the only 
news of peace yet received : "My mind upon the receipt 
of this news was instantly assailed by a thousand ideas, 
all of them contending for pre-eminence, but, believe 
me, my dear friend, none could supplant or ever will 
eradicate that gratitude which has arisen from a lively 
sense of the conduct of your nation and from my obli- 
gations to many of the illustrious characters of it, 
among whom I do not mean to flatter when I place 
you at the head." In 1783 Lafayette went to Madrid 
and had an important interview with the King of 
Spain and his chief minister, and succeeded in pro- 
curing the recognition of the charge d'affairs of the 
United States. In 1784 Lafayette spent nearly five 
months in America, and in 1824 and 1825 toured the 
United States for more than a year as the nation's 
guest. He spent the forty-third anniversary of the 
surrender at Yorktown ; he laid the cornerstone of the 
Bunker Hill monument, and our government sent him 

51 



home in a new frigate, appropriately called the Brandy- 
wine. At a dinner on his departure Lafayette gave 
as a toast, "Enfranchised Europe." He named his 
only son George Washington and one of his daughters 
Virginia. He was the last surviving general of our 
Revolution. When, in 1834, President Andrew Jack- 
son learned of the death of Lafayette he ordered that 
"the same honors be rendered upon this occasion at 
the different military and naval stations as were 
observed upon the decease of Washington, the father 
of his country and his contemporary in arms." 

Lafayette occupies a unique place in our history 
and in our hearts. No foreigner and but few of our 
own nation have been so dear to us. President Poincare 
has written this inscription for the statue of Lafayette 
in Baltimore: 

"In 1777 Lafayette, crossing the seas with French 
volunteers, came to bring brotherly help to the Ameri- 
can people, v/ho were fighting for their national liberty. 

"In 1917 France was fighting, in her turn, to 
defend her life and the liberty of the world. America, 
who had never forgotten Lafayette, crossed the seas 
to help France, and the world was saved." 



52 



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